Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said yesterday that the government will not let opposition leader Sam Rainsy dodge a government ban on public gatherings by holding mass demonstrations during the campaign period before the May 18 district, provincial and city council elections.
“That is not right,” General Sopheak said. “They cannot hold demonstrations, since the campaign is to talk about their party’s work and a demonstration is completely different. They cannot be mixed together.”
Mr. Rainsy said Monday that the CNRP will resume mass demonstrations between May 2 and 17, taking advantage of the government’s reluctance to be seen repressing political activity during an election campaign.
